Looking for a fun Halloween dinner that isn’t another plate of candy or spooky-shaped snacks? These Halloween Stuffed Peppers are made with orange bell peppers carved into little jack-o’-lanterns and filled with cheesy taco rice, ground turkey, and black beans.
The best part is that the filling comes together in one skillet. Even the rice cooks right alongside the meat, salsa, and seasonings, which means fewer dishes and an easy dinner that’s actually filling.
Now, I’ll admit, my pumpkin-carving skills apparently don’t translate to bell peppers. Some of the faces were a little wonky, but they were still adorable. And the kids ate them, so I’m calling that a win!
Whether you’re looking for a Halloween dinner for kids or just want to make an ordinary weeknight meal a little more festive, these jack-o’-lantern stuffed peppers are a fun way to do it.
Why You’ll Love These Halloween Stuffed Peppers
- Easy one-pan filling: The ground turkey, rice, salsa, and seasonings cook together in one skillet.
- A fun Halloween dinner: Carved orange bell peppers look like little jack-o’-lanterns.
- Protein-packed: Ground turkey, black beans, and cheese make this a satisfying meal.
- Made with everyday ingredients: Nothing complicated or hard to find.
- Kid-friendly: Use mild salsa, adjust the seasonings, or serve the filling separately for picky eaters.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These taco stuffed peppers use simple ingredients you might already have in your kitchen.
- Orange bell peppers: You’ll need approximately six medium peppers. Look for ones with flat bottoms so they stand upright.
- Ground turkey: I use one pound, but ground beef works just as well.
- White rice: Uncooked long-grain white rice cooks directly in the skillet with the meat and broth.
- Black beans: Add protein, fiber, and texture.
- Salsa: An easy way to add tomatoes, onions, and flavor without chopping extra vegetables.
- Chicken broth: Cooks the rice and adds flavor.
- Seasonings: Chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt give the filling its taco-inspired flavor.
- Shredded cheese: Cheddar or a Mexican blend works perfectly.
- Optional corn: Adds a little sweetness and extra vegetables.
How to Make Halloween Stuffed Peppers
Step 1: Make the One-Pan Taco Rice
Start by browning the ground turkey or ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks.
Once the meat is fully cooked, stir in the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt.
Add the uncooked white rice, salsa, and chicken broth. Give everything a good stir and bring it to a gentle boil.
Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let the rice simmer for approximately 15–20 minutes, or until tender. If the rice needs a little more time, add a splash of broth and continue cooking.
Once the rice is cooked, stir in the black beans and optional corn. Let everything warm through for another couple of minutes, then stir in the shredded cheese.
That’s it! Your entire filling is ready, and you’ve only used one skillet.
Step 2: Carve Your Jack-o’-Lantern Peppers
While the rice cooks, preheat your oven to 400°F.
Wash and dry the orange bell peppers. Carefully slice off the tops, keeping the stems attached so they look like little pumpkin lids.
Remove the seeds and membranes.
Using a small, sharp paring knife, carve jack-o’-lantern faces into one side of each pepper.
I recommend keeping the faces simple. Triangle eyes and a little smile are plenty!
And if your carving looks a little questionable, welcome to the club. They’re bell peppers, not actual pumpkins. We’re doing our best.
Step 3: Stuff the Peppers
Arrange the carved peppers upright in a baking dish.
Spoon the taco rice mixture into each pepper, filling them generously without packing the filling too tightly.
Sprinkle a little additional shredded cheese over the top.
Place the pepper lids back on loosely, with the stems facing up.
Step 4: Bake Until Tender
Add a small splash of water to the bottom of the baking dish.
Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake at 400°F for 15 minutes.
Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10–15 minutes, until the peppers are tender but still holding their shape.
If you want the cheese extra melty, remove the pepper lids for the last few minutes of baking.
Place the lids back on at a slight angle before serving so you can see the cheesy filling underneath.
Tips for Making the Best Jack-o’-Lantern Stuffed Peppers
Choose peppers that can stand on their own. Flat-bottomed peppers are much easier to fill and bake. You don’t want your little pumpkins tipping over in the oven!
Don’t make the faces too complicated. Simple eyes and mouths are easier to carve and help the peppers keep their shape while baking.
Avoid overbaking. Unlike traditional stuffed peppers that can get very soft, these look best when the peppers are tender but still sturdy enough to stand upright.
Use mild salsa for kids. You can always add hot sauce or extra seasoning to individual servings.
Make extra taco rice filling. If you have smaller peppers or don’t use all the filling, the leftovers are delicious in quesadillas, burritos, or rice bowls.
How to Serve Halloween Stuffed Peppers to Kids
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it’s easy to serve in different ways.
Some kids might love having their own little jack-o’-lantern pepper on their plate. Others might be more interested in the cheesy rice and meat filling.
For younger kids or picky eaters, you can simply scoop out the filling and serve it alongside sliced peppers, avocado, or fruit.
It’s the same dinner, just presented a little differently. No need to make an entirely separate meal.
Can You Make Halloween Stuffed Peppers Ahead of Time?
Yes! The taco rice filling is a great make-ahead option.
Prepare the filling up to two days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
When you’re ready to make dinner, carve the peppers, add the filling, and bake.
Because the filling will be cold, you’ll need to increase the baking time and make sure the centers reach 165°F.
You can also refrigerate leftover cooked stuffed peppers for 3–4 days.
What to Serve with Taco Stuffed Peppers
These stuffed peppers already include protein, rice, beans, and vegetables, so they can easily stand alone as a complete dinner.
If you’re looking for something to serve alongside them, try a simple green salad, sliced avocado, tortilla chips with guacamole, or fresh fruit.
And if you’re planning a Halloween-themed dinner, you can add a few festive snacks or treats to the table without making the entire meal complicated.
A Fun and Easy Halloween Dinner for Families
I love finding little ways to make holidays special without turning every meal into a huge project.
These Halloween Stuffed Peppers are a perfect example. They’re made with simple ingredients, the filling is easy to prepare, and carving the peppers makes dinner a little more fun.
Are they perfectly carved jack-o’-lanterns? Absolutely not.
But they’re cute, they’re delicious, and they’re a fun way to get a balanced dinner on the table during Halloween week.
And that’s good enough for me!
If you like these, check out some of our other favorites!
Easy Turkey Taco Rice Bowls with Salsa-Lime Sour Cream
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Halloween Stuffed Peppers (Easy Jack-o’-Lantern Dinner)
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 min
- Yield: 6 Stuffed Peppers 1x
Description
Orange bell peppers carved into adorable jack-o’-lanterns and filled with cheesy one-pan taco rice, ground turkey, and black beans. A fun, family-friendly Halloween dinner made with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
- 6 medium orange bell peppers
- 1 lb ground turkey or ground beef
- ¾ cup uncooked long-grain white rice
- 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- ¾ cup salsa
- 1¼ cups chicken broth
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ cup shredded cheddar or Mexican-blend cheese, plus additional cheese for topping
- Optional: ½ cup frozen corn
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- In a large skillet with a lid, brown the ground turkey or beef over medium heat, breaking it into small pieces. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Stir in chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt.
- Add uncooked rice, salsa, and chicken broth. Stir well and bring to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15–20 minutes, or until rice is tender. Add a splash of additional broth if needed.
- Stir in black beans and optional corn. Cook for another 2 minutes, then stir in shredded cheese.
- While the rice cooks, wash the bell peppers and slice off their tops, keeping the stems attached. Remove seeds and membranes.
- Carefully carve jack-o’-lantern faces into the sides of the peppers using a small paring knife.
- Arrange peppers upright in a baking dish. Spoon the taco rice filling into each pepper and sprinkle additional shredded cheese over the top.
- Place the pepper lids back on loosely. Add a small splash of water to the bottom of the baking dish.
- Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes, until peppers are tender but still holding their shape.
- For extra melted cheese, remove the pepper lids during the last few minutes of baking, then replace them at a slight angle before serving.
Notes
- Yield: Approximately 6 medium stuffed peppers, depending on their size.
- Rice: Use regular long-grain white rice, not instant or brown rice. Adjust broth and cooking time if needed.
- Meat: Ground turkey or ground beef both work well.
- Salsa: Use mild salsa for a kid-friendly version.
- Make ahead: Prepare the filling up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate.
- Storage: Keep cooked leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container for 3–4 days.
- Leftover filling: Use extra taco rice in quesadillas, burritos, or bowls.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 45-50 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking